Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta (Lightened Up!)

Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is an easy flavorful pasta bursting with the trifecta of cheese, bacon and ranch! AND it’s lightened up!

This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta recipe is simply irresistible. It’s quick and easy to throw together, is smothered in a lightened up cheesy ranch sauce with BACON, broccoli and bell peppers but you can use whatever veggies you have on hand and even sub the chicken for sausage or leave it out completely (totally customizable!) because it’s all about the sauce and the BACON! Winner winner, new favorite Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Dinner!

If you’ve followed Carlsbad Cravings since 2014, then you will recognize this Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta recipe (or at least the recipe as one of the first I ever posted), and if you haven’t – welcome to the pasta of your dreams or as multiple comments below state, “the best pasta I’ve ever had.”

I was reminded of how this was one of the “best pastas ever” as I was editing these new photos and the second I was done, I gave into the siren calls and immediately whipped this Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta up for lunch. And I am going to be honest, it was amazing. And I am going to be doubly honest, I cheated. I didn’t add the chicken because I was super lazy but it was still incredible. So for a complete meal, totally add the chicken, for a lazier meal and more of a bacon ranch mac and cheese, skip the chicken – either way, if you love cheese, bacon, and ranch, you are going to LOVE this Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta recipe.

I wanted to create a pasta that reminded me of the baked potatoes I grew up on piled high with cheese, broccoli, bacon and ranch— I can’t get tired of saying those ingredients together because then I think of those ingredients together—in my mouth!

Instead of potatoes here we have pasta – glorious pasta! (I love eating pasta but I also love making pasta because it is always so fast and easy!) and instead of melted cheese we have rich, creamy cheese sauce. The sauce is made with only one tablespoon of butter, and a little olive oil, which is just awesome considering this makes a whole pound of pasta! Season the pasta with ground mustard, ranch seasoning, basil and garlic and shallots for a cheesy flavor explosion of yum.

Add in the broccoli, red bell peppers, chicken that melts in your mouth with ranchy goodness, and then top with crispy bacon and we have ourselves truly something beautiful. And by beautiful, I mean “one of the best pastas I’ve ever had!” I hope you will be saying that soon too! xo

Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is an easy flavorful pasta bursting with the trifecta of cheese, bacon and ranch AND it's lightened up! It's quick and easy to throw together, is smothered in a lightened up cheesy ranch sauce with BACON, broccoli and bell peppers but you can use whatever veggies you have on hand and even sub the chicken for sausage or leave it out completely (totally customizable!) because it's all about the sauce and the BACON! Winner winner, new favorite Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Dinner!

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Prep Time

15minutes

Cook Time

15minutes

Servings

-6

Ingredients

Chicken Marinade

1poundchicken breasts cut into bite size pieces

1/4cupranch dressing (low fat if you have it)

1tablespoonlemon juice

1/4teaspoonground mustard (mustard powder)

1/8teaspooncayenne pepper (optional)

Pasta

1poundcellentani, rigatoni or penne pasta

3cupsbroccoli, cut into bite size pieces

Chicken

1tablespoonolive oil

1shallot, diced

Salt and pepper to taste

1red bell pepper, chopped

3-4garlic cloves, minced

Cheese Sauce

2tablespoonsolive oil

1tablespoonbutter

1/4cupflour

1 1/2cupslow sodium chicken broth

1 1/2cupslow-fat milk

1teaspoonground mustard

2tablespoonsdry ranch dressing seasoning mix

1teaspoondried basil

1/8-1/4teaspoonred pepper flakes (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

1cupgrated cheddar cheese

Topping

Crumbled (urkey) baconwe like a lot!

Prep Time

15minutes

Cook Time

15minutes

Servings

-6

Ingredients

Chicken Marinade

1poundchicken breasts cut into bite size pieces

1/4cupranch dressing (low fat if you have it)

1tablespoonlemon juice

1/4teaspoonground mustard (mustard powder)

1/8teaspooncayenne pepper (optional)

Pasta

1poundcellentani, rigatoni or penne pasta

3cupsbroccoli, cut into bite size pieces

Chicken

1tablespoonolive oil

1shallot, diced

Salt and pepper to taste

1red bell pepper, chopped

3-4garlic cloves, minced

Cheese Sauce

2tablespoonsolive oil

1tablespoonbutter

1/4cupflour

1 1/2cupslow sodium chicken broth

1 1/2cupslow-fat milk

1teaspoonground mustard

2tablespoonsdry ranch dressing seasoning mix

1teaspoondried basil

1/8-1/4teaspoonred pepper flakes (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

1cupgrated cheddar cheese

Topping

Crumbled (urkey) baconwe like a lot!

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Instructions

Marinate chicken for 30 minutes up to overnight.

Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add broccoli and cook 3-5 minutes, depending on how tender you like your broccoli. Using a slotted spoon or strainer, remove the broccoli and rinse with very cold water. Strain and remove to a plate. In the same pot, proceed to cook pasta al dente according to package directions.

Meanwhile, In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add chicken (including marinade) and shallots; season with salt and pepper. Saute until the outside of the chicken is no longer pink, then add red bell pepper and garlic; cook an additional 1-2 minutes or until chicken is completely cooked through and bell peppers are crisp-tender. Remove to the plate with broccoli.

To the same skillet, melt 1 tablespoon olive oil in 1 tablespoon butter. When butter is completely melted, whisk in flour. Cook, while stirring, for 2 minutes, then turn heat to low. Slowly whisk in chicken broth, then milk, stirring constantly until smooth. Turn heat to medium high and bring the sauce to a simmer. Add red pepper flakes, mustard, ranch seasoning, basil and season with salt and pepper.

When sauce has thickened, remove from heat and stir in cheese. Add more milk if needed to reach desired consistency. Taste and add additional salt and pepper as desired.

Add broccoli, chicken mixture and pasta to the sauce, stirring to combine. Heat through. Top with bacon and serve!

Recipe Notes

*total time does not include marinating as that will vary between individual

I made this tonight and we loved it! Eric said it is one of his top favorite dishes. Thanks for sharing all of these yummy recipes. You have revived my desire to cook! We will definitely be making this again!!

Hi Krista, don’t know how I missed your comment! Thank you so much for letting me know your family loved it! Can’t beat cheese, ranch and bacon 🙂 I am happy you have a new desire to cook! It is always more fun when you have good recipes!

Just had to let you know I made this tonight and it got rave reviews from all who tried it (three elders, my hubby, and my boys). Well done, lady! Truly impressing my hubby is no easy task. Thanks for sharing!!

Hi Lauren! You can definitely use ground mustard in the cheese sauce but you will want to use less because powdered ground mustard is much more potent than the prepared. I would start with 1/3 teaspoon ground mustard in the sauce. Hope that helps. Enjoy!

This was AMAZING! I made it one day after I saw it on Pinterest and can’t believe I waited that long! I had to substitute roasted red peppers because I didn’t have the fresh red pepper and it still turned out fantastic. A HUGE hit with the family. This is going into the favorite recipe binder!!

Hi Karen, thank you for the ultimate compliment of making it into the “favorite recipe binder!” yay! I am so happy it was a huge hit with your family! The roasted red peppers sound like a delicious change as well. Thanks for letting me know how much your family enjoyed it – I hope you find more family favorites here!

This was delicious! Cheesy, creamy, and full of flavor! Hubby was raving about how good it was. It was a bit of a time investment, but totally worth it! I am happy I made plenty of bacon, it was the perfect addition! Thanks for a great dinner!

You are so welcome! Thank you for your compliments! I am so happy to hear your Hubby was raving about it and that it was worth the time. And as far as a bacon – I’m glad you went with “plenty” because bacon makes everything better! Thanks Amanda!

pictures are great…any of them push the hunger button…only thing is , all look great and i dont know which one or ones, i want to try first. but i will try some of these real soon, thanks for the great posts!!!

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